The Dark Society

87

Sabrina greeted the dawn while Luis lay beside her with no intention of stirring. They had finally surrendered to temptation, ignoring the probable consequences. Nevertheless, they stayed snuggled together, laughing like teenagers.

"You have to take me home--that's the agreement, remember?" she whispered.

He smiled lovingly. "What if I don't want to?"

Sabrina twisted around and checked the time. It was late morning, and she'd been gone all night. Fortunately, she and her parents had an understanding, and Tim and Julia trusted her judgment. Luis, however, appeared panicked as he often worried about her father's potential reaction.

"We have a few minutes," she whispered, removing the duvet.

Luis was reluctant at first, but eventually moved into the bathroom as Sabrina watched with newfound excitement. It had become abundantly clear--they'd fallen in love and weren't ashamed of it.

But as an ordained sister of Saint Anthony's, Sabrina's chastity was deemed sacred, so last night had to remain secret. At that exact moment, Tim and Julia sat together, contemplating a troubling future--a mutual concern they both recognized.

Tim stared into the distance. "You contacted Katherine?"

Julia settled beside him. "I had no choice."

He stroked her wrist repeatedly, the traces of their bloodline visible beneath her skin. They both hoped to escape the legacy of evil they carried, yet they wouldn't alarm Sabrina despite her persistent curiosity. Gazing into the distance, Tim agonized.

"It's as we feared--the prophecy is correct," he stated. "The coven wars are beginning."

"Yes, as the elders foresaw."

Though doubts remained, Julia had discovered a terrible truth. Because of that, she didn't expect to hear from Jennifer due to her apparent connection to Samantha. More importantly, if Jennifer was who Julia believed her to be, the day witches were heavily involved.

Jennifer's admissions were shockingly revealing, and she'd now implicated herself with no escape routes. Still, Samantha was the only person who understood everything and the only one who could save Jennifer from obscurity.

"You're afraid," Samantha observed from the doorway.

Jennifer turned. "Shouldn't I be?"

"No," Sam answered, extending her hand.

They'd been apart for years, but Samantha remained steadfast as their fingers intertwined and a forbidden love was renewed. Above all, there would be time to talk, but Jennifer wasn't in the proper frame of mind.

Meanwhile, Samantha made herself comfortable amid constant memories of Sabrina and Saint Anthony's. Hours later, after Jennifer had drifted off to sleep, Samantha's curiosity stirred again.

Saint Anthony's was an embodiment of mystery, and finding Sabrina had only enhanced her suspicions. Thus, Sam would no longer suppress her instincts or contest her feelings.

After gathering her personal items, Sam returned to the Bistro, and when Sabrina and Luis departed, she followed. However, as they arrived home, Samantha stayed back, occupying an isolated area of the nearby forest.

"What are you afraid of?" Sabrina asked.

"Your father," Luis answered.

"I'm home safe, and that's all that matters."

Tim was glaring with his usual stern expression, but Sabrina held an advantage--she knew he enjoyed the drama.

"If he's going to kill you, you might as well get it over with," she joked.

Tim remained silent as Luis and Sabrina approached, but when Julia emerged, he looked relieved.

"Good morning, Dad."

"Morning," he answered, keeping his gaze fixed on Luis.

"Don't worry about him," Julia announced, urging everyone inside. "He's always in a foul mood before breakfast."

Luis climbed the steps as her father placed a heavy hand on his shoulder.

"I trust everything went well?"

"It did," Luis confirmed, settling at the kitchen table.

Her father wanted specifics, but he figured that meddling in Sabrina's love life was better suited for Julia. So, he took a seat in the living room and listened.

"Does he always behave like this?" Luis whispered.

Julia giggled. "It's your first official date--can you blame him?"

"By the way," Sabrina interjected, "how was your night with Jim and Caroline?"

"It went well," Julia confirmed. "We discovered we have a lot in common."

Luis grinned immediately--this was the news he'd been waiting to hear. Besides, getting everyone together at the last minute had been challenging, but knowing they'd become friends was a relief.

"What have we here?" Julia inquired, noticing her daughter's latest acquisition.

Sabrina smiled and presented Luis's gift.

"Don't let your father see that," her mother advised after admiring the enclosed photograph.

Tim soon returned to the kitchen. "You up for some fishing?"

Sabrina beamed. "Absolutely!"

Tim glanced toward Luis and grinned. "Would you like to join us?"

"I would, thank you."

Tim had never taken such an interest in someone before, but Luis felt welcomed, so Sabrina didn't question the invitation.